IDS attacks 'demonisation' of Romney

The cabinet minister, a former leader of the Conservative Party, praised
Romney's record as a governor and businessman and complained that the
Republican presidential candidate had been wrongly portrayed as “stupid”.

He also pointed out that under Barack Obama the US deficit had “gone from
something like 4-500 billion dollars to three or so trillion dollars”, and
suggested the superpower’s economy was stagnating.

Although Duncan Smith stressed he did not know Romney personally, and was not
necessarily a “fan”, the remarks appeared to risk breaching the convention
against ministers taking sides in foreign elections.

“The demonisation of Mitt Romney over here has been appalling really,” the
work and pensions secretary told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Pienaar’s Politics.

“He may have faults. All politicians have faults. But this is a guy who ran a
state very well.